The late Steve Jobs was one of the world’s best known and most controversial CEOs, and even recently the subject of a major motion picture. Although a founder of Apple, his reputation for micromanagement and temperamental style got him fired from the company he helped start. But in a remarkable comeback he was later rehired by Apple and asked to take over as the CEO
Write a 3-4 page paper, answering the following questions:
1. How would you describe Steve Jobs’ leadership style? Was it transformational, transactional? Both, or neither? Explain your reasoning.
2. Consider both the positive and negative aspects of Jobs’ leadership style. What was good, and what was detrimental to Apple? Did the good outweigh the bad?
Articles:
Attention: Fortune articles are in EBSCO (please see directions under Background Materials!)
Burrows, P., Grover, R., & Green, H. (2006). Steve Job’s Magic Kingdom. New York. Business Week, February 6, 2006, Issue 3970, page 62, retrieved on November 10, 2010 at:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_06/b3970001.htm
David, Leonard. (2010). Commnetary: The Last Pitchamn. Business Week on line, June 10, 2010, retrieved November 10, 2010, at: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_25/b4183004440240.htm
Koehn, Nancy F.. Fortune, 11/23/2009, Vol. 160 Issue 10, p110-114, 4p, 1 Color Photograph, 1 Black and White Photograph; (AN 45693823). Accessible via Trident online library.
Optional Readings:
Gomes, Lee (2010).COMPUTERS GET A SECOND ACT. Forbes, 00156914, 5/10/2010, Vol. 185, Issue 8. Accessible via Trident online library.
Helpful Tips:
- Please first read in-depth the Background Materials.
- Identify key concepts (leadership functions and leadership styles), make a list of them, and study them.
- Read the case in Business Week in-depth.
- Do additional research on your own, such as the company website or other recent articles about Steve Job.
- Identify facts in the case that match concepts of leadership (functions and styles) and integrate them.
- The main functions of leadership are establishing a vision, communicating the vision, motivating, an being a change agent: Steve Jobs is well-known for mastering all these functions of management!
- Some of the current leadership theories are charismatic, visionary, transformational versus transactional. Please read the presentation on styles of leadership. Steve Jobs is a great visionary, a transformational leader, and a charismatic leader!
- Apply these concepts to facts in the case in order to develop your arguments, in other words analyze how Jobs fulfills his functions using the article facts and research facts; based on his accomplishments, what styles do characterize his leadership!
- Please make sure to have an Introduction, 2 Main Sections 1) Functions; 2) Leadership Styles. Each section should have subsections. Finih with the conclusions.
Format
In order to develop good business communication skills, it is recommended you write papers using the following structure, using headlines and titles.
Introduction (road map, explain main issue and list and main points)
Main Body: Develop each point in the Introduction, applying theory to facts, in subsections (one subsection per main point).
In this case, I recommend 2 major subsections: Functions and Style. Each subsection should have several further subsections. For example, for functions: vision, communication, motivation, being a change agent. For style visionary, transformational, etc.
Conclusions: Summarize main paper points
List of references.
Citing your Sources:
APA Style
TUI requires all PhD work to be in APA form. We also encourage all other students to comply with guidelines for proper citation of references. You may use the information found on the following links:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
Other resources you may want to look at to assist you in writing college papers:
This is an extensive guide to college writing from the University of Maryland. Pick specific chapters or browse the whole text! http://www.umuc.edu/ewc/onlineguide/chapter1/chapter1-01.shtml